We noticed that you're using an unsupported browser. The TripAdvisor website may not display properly.We support the following browsers:Windows: Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome. Mac: Safari.

This article contains a discussion by TripAdvisor members concerning the above topic.
Please note that the discussion was closed to any additional postings as of Nov 1, 2016
and, as such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated and cannot be
commented on by travelers at this time. Please take this into account when making your
travel plans.

Evidence of human civilization in the Yerevan area dates back as far as 4000 BC and it has been called Erebuni during the Urartian Era, it is the oldest city in the world that has maintained consitent human presence. Yerevan was a desirable location because it made an excellent stop on the caravan trade route between Europe and India. Up until the 19th Century the city and its surrounding area passed back and forth between the Ottomans and the Persians several times.

In 1828 Yerevan was freed from Persian control by the Russians when they defeated the Persians in the Russian-Persian War. The city was rebuilt with several European-style building replacing the more Eastern-style architecture of the Persians and Turks.

Yerevan was redeclared the capitol of Armenia in 1918 when the Armenian people won their independence, following the Armenian Genocide. After the October Revolution in Russia, in 1920, Yerevan became the capitol of the new Soviet Socialist Republic of Armenia, after a brief 2-year period of independence. Since 1991 Armenia has been an independent nation, with Yerevan as its capitol.

During each era Yerevan became affected by the culture and architecture of the oppressors; nonetheless, maintaining its Armenian signature. The Armenian culture and architecture dates back to centuries B.C. and has unique characteristics that are evident in Yerevan and throughout the Republic of Armenia and the occupied lands of Western Armenia (currently Eastern Turkey)